Omega Fighter

[szycag]

I saw this game in a bunch of hidden gem threads and didn't think much of it, mostly because the name is silly and hadn't heard of the developer. Thought there might be some peculiarities that make it worth playing, but just as a diversion. Then after Twiddle picked for the IRC hi-score topic, I gave it a try, and I'm pretty much in love with it.

Kaisero called it a proto-Ketsui, and he wasn't kidding, the scoring system is pretty deep and if you want to get far you have to point blank stuff for a multiplier that can go up to x10. If it's not a manic, then it certainly stands on the line between the two. In 1989 no less! Toaplan had put out Truxton only a year earlier and Batsugun was four years away.

YOU MUST PLAY IT. I sometimes swear I'm playing a slightly slower Dangun Feveron without the disco.

Please post if you have something to say about this game, it's developer, it's peers in 1989, anything of that sort. Also sign here if you'd like to see this game in Hidden Gems week for the tournament

[professor ganson]

I'll take Omega Fighters Special over Batsugun any day of the week. The game is insane. It's just plain sick. I don't believe there was ever a port. Am I wrong?

[Shatterhand]

Twiddle put it as the IRC hi-score contest?

Getting practice for the Hidden Gem week? Tsk....

[professor ganson]

The game won't be hidden for long if we keep talking about how kick ass it is.

[Shatterhand]

I've recommended the game here a ton of times.

I don't think there was a port either. I can't see a home-port doing any justice to it.

[szycag]

http://www.vazcomics.org/mamend/O/omegaf.htm

Some shots of the bosses to get a look at the game... granted, not some of the most memorable bosses in history.

[professor ganson]

I can't see a home-port doing any justice to it.

A Hamster port for PS2 would have been great.

How different are Omega Fighters and Omega Fighters Special? I've only played the latter.

[Shatterhand]

ok, let me re-phrase it

A home-port done back in 1989 would not do it any justice.

A PS2 port would be great

Omega Fighter Special has different enemy patterns, it feels more manic than the original one.

[professor ganson]

it feels more manic than the original one.

Well, then, I should be clear that my praise is specifically for OFS. One of the things I like best about it is precisely how manic it is.

Also, I like how the graphics border on abstract at times, though it is strictly a space shooter.

[Shatterhand]

to be quite honest, the original is very manic too.

[Twiddle]

Also more random and inconsistent at what bones it throws at you.

[Rob]

Honestly can't think of a better candidate for hidden gem week, but maybe people will surprise this year by suggesting something above average. Not a big fan though it is pretty well hidden (for now) and has a scoring system about as enjoyable as recent games like Psyvariar. Have to like the slowdown item.

[gavin19]

It's definately a lot more addictive and fun than other shooters I have played from that era. The proximity multiplier thing is a great touch, makes it stand out. Just out of mild curiosity, I managed to end stage 2 with 1 million then had to turn it off, didn't use bombs (if they even exist in this), good/bad/ugly score? Without a doubt it's a hidden gem.

[Yace D]

You know I want it for the "hidden gem week" ! This game isn't well know, so unfair...

Of course I sign for it.

Enjoy the "Game Over screen" ? This screen always makes me blue...

[undamned]

UPL makes some pretty off-the-wall stuff. I landed "Mutant Night" a number of years ago and still marvel at what drug induced content it holds.
-ud

[DEL]

Yes UPL was an interesting company. Atomic Robo Kid was very different and sprawling. I've just bought an XX Mission PCB, a game which I Counter Stopped in the past. This time I'll have the chance to take a photo.
I was addicted to Omega Fighter when it arrived in the arcade - love the soundtrack! (I have the Scitron OST). I did both loops on that original board, but haven't put Omega Fighter Special through its paces. I do have Special on my XBOX Mame, which is good news if it gets chosen .

[TKGB_Mental_Gear]

Played it in MAME. I thought it was great but it didn't stick to my head like others I so love. Though I love how the entire game is about destroying a battle ship so huge, each level is about destroying a part of it.

[Yace D]

The whole game is a boss in fact. This is undoubtly the biggest boss in shmups history, don't you think ?

[szycag]

Hehe, funny way to look at it...

[rtw]

I bought this game not long ago and it's brilliant.

UPL put out some pretty cool shooters.

Their ex employees seem to be pretty proud to have worked for UPL.

http://upl-gravedigger.hp.infoseek.co.jp/

rtw

[Frederik]

Off topic, but man, the "Team France" banner really is a stroke of genius!

Oh, and yeah, Omega Fighter is a great game. The sound effects are a bit too shrill for me, but otherwise excellent.

[oxtsu]

Their ex employees seem to be pretty proud to have worked for UPL.

http://upl-gravedigger.hp.infoseek.co.jp/

most interesting..

■オメガファイターのゲームデザイナー

「オメガファイター」のゲームデザインはＦ氏ではない。
本人も未だに触れてないので名前は明かせないが、ある大手メーカーから
移籍した、超有名ゲームデザイナーの作品である。

"Omega fighter's game designer

The game design of "Omega fighter" is not Mr. F.
From a certain major manufacturer though the name cannot be revealed because the person in question doesn't touch yet either.
It transfered the register, and the work of a super-famous game designer."

[Twiddle]

Oh, this can only get more interesting.

[gunbird18]

Thanks for bringing this shmup to my attention! Never even knew it existed. Then the "proto-Ketsui" reference caught my attention and I now have a game in MAME that gets played every day!

I also like the the "slow motion item" or as I like to call it, the "frame-rate drop bomb".

[MikeB]

Hmmm.. looks like I'm going to have to take a look at this game.

[rtw]

I scanned the instruction sticker from my PCB, anyone care to tell me
what the text beside the two triangles/pyramids say ?



rtw

[Imhotep]

UPL rocks

what intrigues me is that Black Heart (a seemingly totally third rate game) is still being played competitively it Japan. I credit feeded to the second loop yesterday and there it gets crazy. it must be a challenge even for the best players to get far into the third loop.

The game design of "Omega fighter" is not Mr. F.
From a certain major manufacturer though the name cannot be revealed because the person in question doesn't touch yet either.
It transfered the register, and the work of a super-famous game designer."

I'm not sure what this means, but what super-famous designer could it be? Yagawa?

[Twiddle]

The not picking up certain items, wavy pickup movement and bombing used purely for scoring purposes is pretty eerily familiar.

[rtw]

The high score list is:

IWATANI
NARITA
ABE
TSUNODA
NIHEI
SHIGKSA
T.T
OHNUMA

What if "Tsunoda" is "Tsuneki" ?

rtw

[mainpatr1]

And Iwatani?

Could that possibly be Toru Iwatani?